A Call to Action for the New Decade of Vaccines

This article, published in The Lancet, argues that there is a moral imperative to make vaccines widely available on an equitable basis. The authors lay out a call to action for the new decade of vaccines, which embraces four key elements. First, the requisite funds for the research and development of about 20 improved or novel vaccines in the next decade and beyond must be found. Second, advocacy is needed to mobilize political will for financing of vaccines. Third, developing countries and local communities need to increase their ownership of immunization programs. Fourth, the benefits of vaccines must be measured and widely communicated.

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